An American who qualifies as a Canadian because of dual citizenship who has taken his academic smarts onto the football field, there’s an aura about Sean Harrington one doesn’t feel very often in pro football.

Harrington made his pro debut Saturday night against visiting Edmonton, in effect taking the place of Llevi Noel who started at wideout.

Noel is a demon on special teams, but there was no need to overtax him and that’s when the opening for Harrington was created.

He responded by recording two tackles.

One of these days, Harrington will line up at linebacker and make more plays.

“We’re excited about Sean,’’ said head coach Marc Trestman. “He was a very good special teams player in college (Michigan State) and he’s taken on that role for us.

“He’s a smart, young man. I just see him continuing to grow in our football team, both on special teams and eventually as a linebacker. We’ll play him more reps and that could happen early on in the season.”

Harrington was born in Michigan.

Argonautsâ linebacker Sean Harrington grew up in Michigan, but qualified for the May draft due to his mother being born in Sarnia.â(Jack Boland/Toronto Sun)

He qualifies as a Canadian and thus became eligible for this past May’s draft because his mom was born in Sarnia.

As a kid growing up in Michigan, Harrington played hockey and often crossed the border to compete against Canadian teams.

It wasn’t until his football-playing days at Michigan State when Harrington discovered how he could play in three-down football as a Canadian, a designation the league now refers to as a national.

“I went through the whole combine process and draft process and I couldn’t be happier to be here in Toronto,’’ said Harrington, a well-spoken and very respectful 22-year-old whose demeanour belies his age.

It was at the urging of his parents that Harrington became a dual citizen.

Admittedly, he did not envision playing in the CFL at that early stage.

As he evolved, the dream of playing pro football in the CFL grew more intense. Harrington followed the CFL.

He grew up just outside Detroit and the proximity to Toronto allowed Harrington to pay close tabs on the Argos.

Names such as Pinball Clemons and Damon Allen resonated.

When asked if he had heard of Rocket Ismail, Harrington showed his age.

“I’m not sure who that is,’’ confided Harrington, who, at least, deserves credit for being honest.

As fate would have it, Harrington’s first visit to BMO Field, home to the Argos, would involve a sighting of a banner honouring Ed Harrington, one of the franchise’s all-time greats.

“I knew who that was,’’ said the rookie. “That’s a legendary name. It’s good to see that last name up there.”

Maybe another Harrington will one day be remembered in Argos lore.

For now, Sean Harrington is focused on doing whatever he can to get better and help his team.

A two-sport star, Harrington was captain of his hockey team in his senior year in high school.

Whether it’s the connection to the Argos great that bears his surname or Sean Harrington’s number that connects him to the hockey world, there are some interesting ties that surround him.

Harrington wears No. 99, a jersey made famous by Wayne Gretzky.

Harrington debated which sporting path he should follow, hockey or football, but when Michigan State came calling he couldn’t refuse.

“Everything worked out,’’ said Harrington. “I’m happy with my decision.”

Being able to run up and down field, make tackles and help in a winning cause excited Harrington.

“We were coming off a tough loss and this past week was a statement game collectively as a team,’’ he said.

“Individually, it was a great opportunity for me to showcase my talents. I’m one of the younger guys on the team and I’m working on an uphill ladder.”

Harrington wasn’t exposed to the CFL game and its many nuances until he showed at York University for the start of training camp.

“There are so many unique rules as compared to the NFL and NCAA. It’s unique in a way that you can use them to your strengths and you can be ahead of the competition. It’s an adjustment for sure, the speed of the game, 20-second play clock, 12 men on the field, the length of the field, the whole yard off the line of scrimmage. The more you learn, the better you’ll separate yourself from the competition.”

At Michigan State, Harrington balanced sports and studies.

“I graduated with my under grad degree in economics,’’ said Harrington.

“I’m proud of that and it’s something I’ll carry for the rest of my life. My parents instilled in me at a very young age the importance of education. As you get older you realize sports isn’t forever and you try to network. I try to find myself constantly learning, whether that’s academically or how I carry myself throughout.”

ESKS AGAIN

Marc Trestman takes the complexities of football, and there are many, and tries to be as simplistic as possible.

Every week is approached as though the Argos are 0-0, for example.

The Argos play the Eskimos for the second week in a row, only this time it’s in Edmonton and yet he does not approach it as a matchup against the same opponent.

He’ll call it like it is and when asked Monday about an interception James Franklin threw in Toronto’s 20-17 win over the Eskimos, Trestman owned up to it.

“We made a subtle change in how we were going to run that route during the week and we never got a chance to rep it,’’ acknowledged Trestman of an intended pass to Armanti Edwards.

“I don’t think that was fair to our quarterback, I don’t think it was fair to our receiver. We expected to get it done, but didn’t during the normal progression of our teachings. I own that one amidst all the passes James threw. That’s one we’d certainly like to have back from a coaching staff and better coach that up between the two of them.”

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